Question
Why are insertion and deletion mutations so harmful?
They change all of the codons from the mutation on down the line, which changes the amino acid sequence
They insert things that an organism doesn't need.
They often delete things that organisms need.
Insertion and deletions are not any more harmful than substitution mutations.
They change all of the codons from the mutation on down the line, which changes the amino acid sequence
They insert things that an organism doesn't need.
They often delete things that organisms need.
Insertion and deletions are not any more harmful than substitution mutations.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Insertion and deletion mutations are often considered more harmful than substitution mutations primarily because they can lead to a significant change in the reading frame of the genetic code, a phenomenon known as a frameshift mutation. Here’s a breakdown of why insertion and deletion mutations can be particularly disruptive:
1. **Frameshift Effects**: When bases are added (insertion) or removed (deletion) from the DNA sequence, it can alter the way the remaining sequence is read. Since codons consist of three nucleotide bases, an insertion or deletion that is not a multiple of three will shift the reading frame of the entire downstream sequence. This change can result in completely different amino acids being incorporated into the protein, often leading to a nonfunctional product.
2. **Change in Protein Structure**: The resulting changes in the amino acid sequence can lead to misfolded proteins or proteins that lack necessary functional sites, potentially disrupting cellular processes and leading to disease.
3. **Stop Codons**: In some cases, a frameshift mutation can introduce premature stop codons, resulting in truncated proteins that can be nonfunctional or toxic to the cell.
4. **Widespread Impact**: Since the effects of insertion and deletion mutations propagate along the entire length of the gene downstream, the consequences can be much broader than those of substitution mutations, which only change one codon and may or may not significantly affect the protein's function.
5. **Genetic Diseases**: Many genetic diseases are caused by insertion or deletion mutations that disrupt the normal function of genes. This further highlights the potential for these types of mutations to have severe consequences.
While substitution mutations can also be harmful, especially when they result in changes to critical amino acids, they often have more localized effects than insertion and deletion mutations. Thus, the statement "They change all of the codons from the mutation on down the line, which changes the amino acid sequence" is a key reason why insertion and deletion mutations can be particularly harmful.
1. **Frameshift Effects**: When bases are added (insertion) or removed (deletion) from the DNA sequence, it can alter the way the remaining sequence is read. Since codons consist of three nucleotide bases, an insertion or deletion that is not a multiple of three will shift the reading frame of the entire downstream sequence. This change can result in completely different amino acids being incorporated into the protein, often leading to a nonfunctional product.
2. **Change in Protein Structure**: The resulting changes in the amino acid sequence can lead to misfolded proteins or proteins that lack necessary functional sites, potentially disrupting cellular processes and leading to disease.
3. **Stop Codons**: In some cases, a frameshift mutation can introduce premature stop codons, resulting in truncated proteins that can be nonfunctional or toxic to the cell.
4. **Widespread Impact**: Since the effects of insertion and deletion mutations propagate along the entire length of the gene downstream, the consequences can be much broader than those of substitution mutations, which only change one codon and may or may not significantly affect the protein's function.
5. **Genetic Diseases**: Many genetic diseases are caused by insertion or deletion mutations that disrupt the normal function of genes. This further highlights the potential for these types of mutations to have severe consequences.
While substitution mutations can also be harmful, especially when they result in changes to critical amino acids, they often have more localized effects than insertion and deletion mutations. Thus, the statement "They change all of the codons from the mutation on down the line, which changes the amino acid sequence" is a key reason why insertion and deletion mutations can be particularly harmful.